Entomology Commons^™

Cover Art For Tgle Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

Full Issue For Tgle Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Full Issue for TGLE Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

Data Augmentation And Machine Learning Algorithms For Multi-Class Imbalanced Morphometrics Data Of Stingless Bees, Daisy Salifu, Lorna Chepkemoi, Eric Ali Ibrahim, Kiatoko Nkoba, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The study focusses on handling of multiclass imbalanced data on classification of stingless bee samples by employing data balancing techniques, namely Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and Adaptive Synthetic (ADASYN) approach. These techniques are applied in combination with machine learning (ML) algorithms; specifically Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), to assess the models’ predictive performance to infer stingless bee samples identities. We studied ML classifier models: RF, RF + SMOTE, RF + ADASYN, SVM, SVM + SMOTE and SVM + ADASYN on the six-class imbalanced dataset of stingless bees morphometrics. Multi-class area under curve (AUC), F1-score, G-mean, balanced …

Thriving Hives: Processing And Using Beeswax - Candles And Cosmetics, Brynn Meredith, Teresa Hunsaker, Andree' Walker Bravo

All Current Publications

Beeswax is a substance produced by bees for constructing honeycomb in a hive. When raw wax is harvested from the hive, it may be quite dirty and can have many different kinds of debris stuck in it. Because of this, it is important that you clean and process the wax before using it. This fact sheet will teach you how to process the wax that you harvest and provide some suggestions on how you can use it in your home.

3d Printing Insect Models For K-12 Education, Henry L. Whittemore, Jason Oliver, Karla M. Addesso

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

An Intensified Cereal Push-Pull System Reduces Pest Infestation And Confers Yield Advantages In High-Value Vegetables, Frank Chidawanyika, Evanson R. Omuse, Lavender O. Agutu, Jimmy O. Pittchar, Dickens Nyagol, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Crop diversification is associated with ecosystem services that can improve yield. We integrated tomatoes and kales within the cereal push-pull technology (PPT), to form the vegetable integrated push-pull (VIPP), and explored the influence of these cropping systems on pest and disease management, and subsequent yield of the vegetables. Aphids and diamondback moths (DBM), the major pests in kale production, together with grasshoppers were consistently lower in the VIPP plots. Low incidences and damage by leafminers, whiteflies and fruitflies on tomatoes were observed in VIPP plots compared to plots of tomato intercropped with maize (control). The severity of black rot and …

Long-Term Agricultural Management Reduces Abundance And Alters Community Structure Of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Cynthia M. Fiser, Nathan L. Haan, Douglas A. Landis

Entomology Faculty Publications

Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are beneficial predators and bioindicators of ground-dwelling arthropod diversity in agricultural landscapes. We studied changes in community composition, activity density, and diversity of carabids in a long-term agroecosystem study spanning 30 years in the US Midwest. We contrasted carabid community metrics measured by pitfall trap sampling in two conservation-oriented treatments in a corn-soybean-wheat rotation. One treatment uses conventional practices but with reduced agrochemical inputs (Reduced Input), while the other has no synthetic inputs (Biologically Based). Since a 1994–95 study on the same site, in 2019 overall carabid activity density had declined a minimum of 58–76 % …

Climate Effects On Honey Bees Can Be Mitigated By Beekeeping Management In Kenya, Malena Sibaja Leyton, H. Michael G. Lattorff, Nkoba Kiatoko, Fabrice Requier

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In recent decades, worldwide concerns about the health of honey bees motivated the development of surveys to monitor the colony losses, of which Sub-Saharan Africa has had limited representation. In the context of climate change, understanding how climate affects colony losses has become fundamental, yet literature on this subject is scarce. For the first time, we conducted a survey to estimate the livestock decrease of honey bee colonies in Kenya for the year 2021–2022 to explore the effects of environmental conditions, such as temperature and precipitation, on livestock decrease. We define “livestock decrease” from the beekeeper's perspective, including dead colonies …

Automatic Synthesis Of Insects Bioacoustics Using Machine Learning: A Systematic Review, Henry Kyalo, Henri Tonnang, James Egonyu, John Olukuru, Chrysantus Tanga, Kennedy Senagi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The application of machine learning has received increasing attention in the synthesis of insect sounds to preserve biodiversity. This study reviewed current literature on the application of these techniques in the automatic synthesis of insect bioacoustic and their applications in insects as food and feed, improving pest management, and as well as managing pollinators. To achieve this, the study used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to identify, screen, and include the final articles used in this review, based on criteria such as papers addressing machine learning in insect acoustics, biodiversity, ecology conservation, etc. This study …

Spatiotemporal Trends In Anopheles Funestus Breeding Habitats, Grace R. Aduvukha, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Onisimo Mutanga, John Odindi, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Effective identification and control of malaria vector larval breeding habitats are crucial for the management and eradication of malaria. Despite its importance, the last decade has seen a decline in data availability and intervention efforts due to reduced attention and prioritization. This study addresses the geographic data scarcity concerning Anopheles funestus larval breeding habitats in a malaria-prone region of western Kenya. Employing a two-step methodological approach, we integrated multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and rule-based fuzzy logic analysis to evaluate the spatiotemporal similarity or divergence of these habitats. The analysis spanned a five-year interval, 2008, 2013, and 2018 with 2013 serving …

Pulsating Drought And Insect Herbivory Cause Differential Effects On Soybean (Glycine Max) Genotypes That Vary In Canopy Wilting Speed, Jessica Ayala, Manish Gautam, Adrianna Peissel, George Justin, Rupesh Kariyat

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

As a result of climate change, global temperatures are increasing, and water scarcity is on the rise. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] is one of the most important crops in the world due to its importance as food and feed. One of the major limiting factors for soybean production is drought, which can cause up to 80% reduction in yield. Therefore, growers and plant breeders are turning to soybean accessions that demonstrate better water use efficiency (WUE). However, in addition to drought, insect herbivory by soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens, SBL) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, FAW) can also reduce soybean …

Genetic Variation Of Rice Stink Bugs, Oebalus Spp. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) From Southeastern United States And Cuba, Allen Szalanski, Raymond Hix, Dylan Cleary, N. Bateman, Richard Adams, Ronald Cherry

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.; Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) has been a pest of rice in the United States since the 1880s. Besides this species, there now are two invasive Oebalus species, O. ypsilongriseus (De Geer) and O. insularis St & aring;l, which are found in Florida. Genetic variation of these economically important species is unknown, limiting our understanding of Oebalus evolution and demography. Here we provide the first population-level investigation of genetic diversity in these species. Ninety two adult stink bugs were collected from the southeastern United States (Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida), and Cuba. A region of the mitochondrial DNA …

Atmospheric Cold Plasma Alters Plant Traits And Negatively Affects The Growth And Development Of Fall Armyworm In Rice, Deepak Dilip, Nikitha Modupalli, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Rupesh Kariyat

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Plasma is considered as the fourth state of matter, and atmospheric cold plasma (cold plasma) is a type of plasma consisting of ionized gases containing excited species of atoms, molecules, ions, and free radicals at near room temperature. Cold plasma is generated by applying high voltage to gases, causing it to ionize thus forming plasma. Although cold plasma has been found to break seed dormancy and improve germination rate, only a few studies have explored the potential of cold plasma against insect herbivory. Given that cold plasma produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that can activate plant signalling molecules, it …

Spatiotemporal Variability And Functional Redundancy Obscure Effects Of Urbanization On Strawberry Pollinators, Kyla D. Schulte, Caleb J. Wilson, Anna Tawril, Mary A. Jamieson

Entomology Faculty Publications

Pollination services across rural–urban gradients may vary as land cover and other environmental attributes differentially influence pollinators. Most studies examining crop pollination, however, have been conducted in rural environments, while research in urban areas has lagged behind despite growing interest in urban agriculture. In this study, we hypothesized that increased urbanization would alter pollinator community composition due to a reduction in natural areas within the surrounding landscape, potentially decreasing pollinator abundance. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted a three-year study using strawberries as a focal study crop. We characterized the abundance, diversity, and community composition of bees across 10 farms …

Biodiversity And Cold Tolerance Of Dung Beetles In Cattle Pastures And Forested Habitats In Northeast Arkansas, Becca Lynn Lett

Student Theses and Dissertations

Dung beetles play vital ecological roles, including dung removal and pest reduction. They rely on environmental temperature for activity, and forest habitats typically provide more favorable temperatures. This study occurred in Northeast Arkansas and compared dung beetle diversity in forests and pastures, finding greater diversity in forests. In addition, this study looked at abundance in one pasture 15 years apart and found that abundance remained stable over 15 years, while overall diversity increased. Thermal limit assays on three Onthophagus species provided insights into temperature tolerances. These findings offer valuable information on dung beetle abundance and diversity in the region and …

Grass Weed Control And Rice Response With Tetflupyrolimet-Containing Programs, Mason C. Castner, Jason K. Norsworthy, Thomas R. Butts, Trenton L. Roberts, Nick R. Bateman, Travis R. Faske

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tetflupyrolimet is the first herbicide with a novel site of action (SOA) labeled PRE and early POST for use in agronomic crops to be labeled in the last three decades. Direct-seeded paddy rice field experiments were conducted near Stuttgart, AR, on a silt loam soil and near Keiser, AR, on a clay soil to evaluate tetflupyrolimet-containing herbicide programs in comparison to commercial standards in conventional, imidazolinone-resistant, and quizalofop-resistant rice systems. Additionally, a furrow-irrigated rice experiment was conducted near Colt, AR, and Keiser to ensure weed control with clomazone and tetflupyrolimet mixtures compared to commercial standards. Twelve commonly planted rice cultivars …

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces Α- But Not Β- And Γ-Diversity Of Bees., Toby P N Tsang, A A Amado De Santis, Gabriela Armas-Quiñonez, John S Ascher, Eva Samanta Ávila-Gómez, András Báldi, Kimberly M Ballare, Mario V Balzan, Weronika Banaszak-Cibicka, Svenja Bänsch, Yves Basset, Adam J Bates, Jessica M Baumann, Mariana Beal-Neves, Ashley Bennett, Antonio Diego M Bezerra, Betina Blochtein, Riccardo Bommarco, Berry Brosi, Laura A Burkle, Luísa G Carvalheiro, Ignacio Castellanos, Marcela Cely-Santos, Hamutahl Cohen, Drissa Coulibaly, Saul A Cunningham, Sarah Cusser, Isabelle Dajoz, Deborah A Delaney, Ek Del-Val, Monika Egerer, Markus P Eichhorn, Eunice Enríquez, Martin H Entling, Natalia Escobedo-Kenefic, Pedro Maria Abreu Ferreira, Gordon Fitch, Jessica R K Forrest, Valérie Fournier, Robert Fowler, Breno M Freitas, Hannah R Gaines-Day, Benoît Geslin, Jaboury Ghazoul, Paul Glaum, Jose L Gonzalez-Andujar, Adrian González-Chaves, Heather Grab, Claudio Gratton, Solène Guenat, Catalina Gutiérrez-Chacón, Mark A Hall, Mick E Hanley, Annika Hass, Ernest Ireneusz Hennig, Martin Hermy, Juliana Hipólito, Andrea Holzschuh, Sebastian Hopfenmüller, Keng-Lou James Hung, Kristoffer Hylander, Jordi Izquierdo, Mary A Jamieson, Birgit Jauker, Steve Javorek, Shalene Jha, Björn K Klatt, David Kleijn, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki, Jochen Krauss, Michael Kuhlmann, Patricia Landaverde-González, Tanya Latty, Misha Leong, Susannah B Lerman, Yunhui Liu, Ana Carolina Pereira Machado, Anson Main, Rachel Mallinger, Yael Mandelik, Bruno Ferreira Marques, Kevin Matteson, Frédéric Mccune, Ling-Zeng Meng, Jean Paul Metzger, Paula María Montoya-Pfeiffer, Carolina Morales, Lora Morandin, Jane Morrison, Sonja Mudri-Stojnić, Pakorn Nalinrachatakan, Olivia Norfolk, Mark Otieno, Mia G Park, Stacy M Philpott, Gideon Pisanty, Montserrat Plascencia, Simon G Potts, Eileen F Power, Kit Prendergast, Robyn D Quistberg, Davi De Lacerda Ramos, André Rodrigo Rech, Victoria Reynolds, Miriam H Richards, Stuart P M Roberts, Malena Sabatino, Ulrika Samnegård, Hillary Sardiñas, Karina Sánchez-Echeverría, Fernanda Teixeira Saturni, Jeroen Scheper, Amber R Sciligo, C Sheena Sidhu, Brian J Spiesman, Tuanjit Sritongchuay, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Katharina Stein, Alyssa B Stewart, Jane C Stout, Hisatomo Taki, Pornpimon Tangtorwongsakul, Caragh G Threlfall, Carla Faleiro Tinoco, Teja Tscharntke, Katherine J Turo, Chatura Vaidya, Rémy Vandame, Carlos H Vergara, Blandina F Viana, Eric Vides-Borrell, Natapot Warrit, Elisabeth Webb, Catrin Westphal, Jennifer B Wickens, Neal M Williams, Nicholas S G Williams, Caleb J Wilson, Panlong Wu, Elsa Youngsteadt, Yi Zou, Lauren C Ponisio, Timothy C Bonebrake

Entomology Faculty Publications

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e., γ-diversity), either due to reduced β-diversity amplifying diversity loss or increased β-diversity dampening diversity loss. Additionally, studies often focus on taxonomic diversity, while other important biodiversity components, including phylogenetic diversity, can exhibit differential responses. Here, we evaluated how agricultural and urban land use alters the taxonomic and phylogenetic α-, β-, and γ-diversity of an important pollinator taxon-bees. Using a multicontinental dataset of 3117 bee …

A Phylogeographic Study Of The Kentucky Endemic Cave Beetle Neaphaenops Tellkampfii Erichson (1844), Mahamad Miya

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cave beetles are an excellent group to study evolutionary history and speciation by isolation within cave habitats. However, they are underrepresented in such studies, particularly in North America, one of the hotspots of cave biodiversity where beetles account for a significant proportion. The present research addresses this issue by focusing on the Kentucky endemic cave beetle, Neaphaenops tellkampfii, a species hypothesized to comprise four subspecies. Based on allozyme data, previous studies have noted high genetic variation within and high similarity among local populations of this beetle, suggesting complex evolutionary dynamics. In this regard, this study aims to elucidate the evolutionary …

Nebline, January/February 2025

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2024 Extension Highlights

4-H Engaged 34,177 Youth

Nebraska Extension’s Strategic Direction

Reflflection, Growth and Whole-Person Wellness for 2025. Emily Gratopp

Recipe of the Month: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, Emily Gratopp

Extension’s 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Begins Soon

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

ProHort Lawn and Landscape Update

2025 Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Crop Production Clinics

Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women

At Ag Literacy Festival, Students Learn How Agriculture Impacts Their Daily Lives

Managing Hard Water, Becky Schuerman

Don’t Let Fungus Gnats Bug You and Your Plants, Kait Chapman

2025 Lincoln …